The show sees the uniformed squad, led by Inspector Raymond Fowler (Atkinson), and the CID, led by Detective Inspector Derek Grim (David Haig), locking horns over similar, or even the same, issues while having conflicting views or methods of operations.

Many notable actors made guest appearances, and these include the writer Ben Elton, Stephen Fry, Stephen Moore, Melvyn Hayes, Trevor Peacock, Owen Teale, Colin McFarlane, Alan Cox, Alexander Armstrong, Nicola Stapleton, Perry Fenwick, Walter Sparrow, Geoffrey Chater, Lucy Robinson, Gabrielle Blunt and Rupert Vansittart.

[6] Creator and writer Ben Elton is a fan of Dad's Army,[7] and many of the characters were influenced by the show.

Constable Gladstone's habit of interrupting a briefing with a story about life in Trinidad is similar to Lance Corporal Jones's penchant for reminiscing about Sudan during Captain Mainwaring's speeches.

Other references include in the episode "Rag Week", when Fowler is briefly seen walking out of a shop called "Mainwaring's".